Part of the Graduate School of Education
Legal Information Management and Analysis, MS/JD
Through a collaboration between the Department of Information Science and the School of Law, you can earn two degrees: a master of science degree (MS) and a doctor of law (JD) degree. This collaboration agreement provides training in information science and law, essential for advancement in the profession of academic law librarianship, and prepares you for new opportunities in publishing and the legal information industry.
Why Legal Information Management and Analysis at UB?
The features of this collaboration agreement include:
- accelerated course of study, allowing for the completion of both degrees in four years, rather than the four and a half to five years traditionally required to earn both degrees individually
- accreditation by the American Library Association, which makes your degree more valuable
- flexibility with course delivery options (on campus, online or hybrid); enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and varied course times (evening classes available)
- practica, special projects and directed study courses to gain real-world experience
- student-centered learning experiences including student groups and chapter activities, departmental seminars, and opportunities to serve on committees to enrich learning and networking
Program Overview
| Academic credentials granted | Master of Science/Doctor of Law (MS/JD) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 36 |
| Time to completion | 4 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery options | On campus, online or hybrid |
| Careers | Examples include:
|
| Application deadline | Rolling admissions |
Course Requirements
You must fulfill the course requirements for both the Department of Information Sciences (IS) and the School of Law.
All MS/JD students are required to take Law Library Administration (cross-listed in IS and the School of Law).
JD candidates, as part of their School of Law program, are strongly encouraged to take a broad variety of courses to become familiar with a range of legal information.
University policy requires that the total shared credit towards the MS and JD degrees does not exceed 13 credit hours.
IS: The MS degree is awarded on the completion of 36 credit hours, 9 attributable to core required courses. IS will accept a maximum of 6 credits from another graduate department or school toward the MS. You must file a correct plan of study with the IS office before being eligible for graduation.
School of Law: The JD degree is awarded on the completion of 90 credit hours, 31.5 in the core first-year program. The remaining 58.5 credits are earned through required upper division writing and skills courses, along with electives and at least one seminar. The School of Law will accept up to 9 hours of law-related graduate courses in other departments toward the JD degree.
Program Sequence
The sequence of the first two years may be reversed.
- Year 1: Law (31.5 credits: core program)
- Year 2: IS (24 credits)
- Year 3: Law (28.5 credits; includes 1 or 2 IS or cross-listed courses)
- Year 4: Law (30 credits; includes 1 or 2 IS or cross-listed courses)
Apply to Both Schools
Separate applications must be submitted and you must be admitted to the School of Law as well as the Graduate School of Education Department of Information Science. Follow the normal admission procedure for each unit.
You can apply to both schools at the same time; or, if you are already admitted to the JD or the MS program, you can apply for the dual major during your first year and seek admission to the other school.
Applying to the Department of Information Science
You must have received an undergraduate bachelor degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better by the intended beginning semester. Applications with lower GPA’s may still be considered and granted a “conditional admission” (see below for more information).
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Graduate Record Exam or MAT scores, including verbal, quantitative and writing sections.
You may be exempt from the GRE/MAT requirement if one of the following is true:- You already have a master’s degree and a GPA in that degree of 3.5 or greater
- You already have a PhD or equivalent (e.g., EdD, JD)
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Statement of Education and Career Goals: A detailed statement describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in the information science field. Include your professional goals and objectives and indicate any area of special interest within the field.
Conditional Admission Status: You may be admitted conditionally to this MS program when you do not meet all admission requirements (most often because of an undergraduate GPA below 3.0) but your personal statements, transcripts, entrance examination scores, employment history and letters of reference demonstrate potential for success. At the end of the semester in which you have attempted 9 credit hours in the program — including two core courses (e.g., LIS 507, LIS 508, LIS 575) (courses with a grade of R/resigned do not count as attempted, but I and U do) — your academic standing will be reviewed by IS staff. At the time of the review, if you meet all the conditions of good academic standing and have no incomplete or unsatisfactory grades, conditional status is automatically lifted and you are considered to be in good academic standing.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-state Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload 3 documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test). Test scores must be dated within two years of submitting your application.
- TOEFL minimum score is a 250 for a computer based test, 600 for a paper based test and 79 for the Internet based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation — International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application, and must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Questions about the program?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office.
Questions About the Admission Process?
Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall, North Campus
716-645-2110
gseinfo@buffalo.edu